Dover, Del. (Oct. 15, 2017) --- The Delaware State bowling team, ranked 12th in the preseason national top 25 poll, is off to a flying start to the 2017-18 campaign. The Hornets posted a 9-1 record, tops among all teams, in the Kutztown University Bud Whitman Memorial Tournament over the weekend.

DSU was a perfect 5-0 to finish first in traditional team games on Sunday with a total pinfall of 5,122 for an average of 204.9 per game. The Hornets were tied with St. Francis (Pa.) for the top single game score of 1,085 in the tournament.

Delaware State’s Elizabeth Burkholder (sr.) and Chelsey Merklinger (sr.) were named to the All-Tournament team for their performances in the regular team games.

Burkholder was fourth among 116 competitors with a total pinfall of 1,075 in five games for an average of 215.0. She rolled three games of 200-or-better, including scores of 264 and 253, the second and fourth third best single games of the tournament.

Merklinger was fifth in the tournament with a total of 1,046 for a 209.2 average. She had a high of 248 among three 200 games.